Apparatus for retrieving data from detachable optical driver
View Patent ↗A detachable optical driver includes a detachable box, a signal import and export device installed in the detachable box, a playing platform; and an encoding/decoding module connecting to and positioned inside the playing platform for being able to export said data to a display facility. The detachable optical driver is a modulized design by enhancing a media playing platform with detachable various functions, such as CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, DVD-Dual and digital camcorder, home gateway, media database and so on. When the reading device of the optical drive malfunctions, only that malfunctioned reading device needs to be changed.
1. A modularized system for reading from and/or writing to optical media, the system comprising:
a playing device configured to engage with two or more modular components;
a first modular component configured to be slidably received by the playing device, the first modular component including a housing and an optical reading and/or writing device removably received within the housing, the reading and/or writing device being operably coupled with the playing device when the first modular component is engaged with the playing device; and
a second modular component configured to be slidably received by the playing device, the second modular component having a memory that stores an encoding and/or decoding program operable by the playing device to write to and/or read from optical media at the first modular component.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the optical reading and/or writing device includes a CD and/or DVD drive.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein the second modular component includes an MPEG encoder and/or decoder.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the playing device outputs one or more signals decoded by the second modular component, the one or more signals being readable by an audio and/or video device operably coupled with the playing device.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the first modular component engages with the playing device at a top side of the playing device.
6. The system of claim 1 , further comprising a third modular component configured to engage with the first modular component in a stacked arrangement, wherein the third modular component is operably coupled with the playing device when stacked upon the first modular component.
7. The system of claim 1 wherein the first modular component is operably coupled with the playing device via an IEEE 1394 based communication link.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein the first modular component is operably coupled with the playing device via a universal serial bus (USB) link.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the first modular component is operably coupled with the playing device via an 802.11 wireless communication link.
10. The system of claim 1 wherein the first modular component is operably coupled with the playing device via an IDE or SCSI link.
11. A modularized device for reading from and/or writing to optical media, the device comprising:
a first modular component including a housing means and means for optically reading from and/or writing to optical media, the means for optically reading and/or writing being removably received within the housing means;
a second modular component including means for storing an encoding and/or decoding program; and
a playing unit configured to slidably receive the first and second modular components, the playing unit operably coupling the means for optically reading and/or writing with the means for storing the encoding and/or decoding program when engaged with the first and second modular components.
12. The device of claim 11 wherein the first and second modular components are configured to read from and/or write to the optical media in a data format that includes at least one of CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, DVD-Audio, and SACD.
13. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for optically reading and/or writing comprises a first means for optically reading and/or writing, and wherein the device further comprises a third modular component including a second means for optically reading and/or writing operably coupled with the means for storing the encoding and/or decoding program when the playing unit is engaged with the second and third modular components.
14. The device of claim 11 wherein the means for storing the encoding and/or decoding program comprises a first means for storing the encoding and/or decoding program, and wherein the device further comprises a third modular component including a second means for storing the encoding and/or decoding program operably coupled with the means for optically reading and/or writing when the playing unit is engaged with the first and third modular components.
15. A media player, comprising:
a playing device;
a housing configured to be slidably installed with and uninstalled from the playing device;
a data read/write device configured to be removably received in the housing, wherein the data read/write device is operably coupled with the playing device when the housing is engaged with the playing device; and
an encoding/decoding device configured to be slidably installed with and uninstalled from the playing device, wherein the encoding/decoding device includes a memory storing an encoding and/or decoding program that enables the playing device to play data accessed by the data read/write device.
16. The media player of claim 15 wherein the data read/write device includes a DVD drive and/or CD drive configured to read from and/or write to optical media.
17. The media player of claim 15 wherein the data read/write device includes a hard disk drive having media data stored thereon.
18. The media player of claim 15 wherein the encoding/decoding device is a first encoding/decoding device having a first encoding and/or decoding program that enables the playing device to play first data accessed by the data read/write device, and wherein the media player further comprises:
a second encoding/decoding device configured to be slidably received by the playing device after uninstalling the first encoding/decoding device, the second encoding/decoding device including a memory storing a second encoding and/or decoding program that enables the playing device to play second data accessed by the data read/write device, wherein the second data is different than the first data.
19. The media player of claim 15 wherein the data read/write device and encoding/decoding device are configured to read from and/or write to optical media in a data format that includes at least one of CD-ROM, CD-RW, DVD-ROM, DVD-RW, DVD-Audio, and SACD.
20. The media player of claim 15 wherein the encoding/decoding device includes an MPEG encoder and/or decoder.
21. The media player of claim 15 wherein the playing device is configured to output one or more signals decoded by the encoding/decoding device, and wherein the one or more signals are readable by an audio and/or video device communication with the playing device.